Rustic Sourdough Bread

Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients

1 cup "fed" sourdough starter
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Directions
1) Combine all of the ingredients, kneading to form a smooth dough.

2) Allow the dough to rise, in a covered bowl, until it's doubled in size, about 90 minutes.

3) Gently divide the dough in half; it'll deflate somewhat.

4) Gently shape the dough into two oval loaves, and place them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise until very puffy, about 1 hour. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.

5) Spray the loaves with lukewarm water.

6) Make two fairly deep horizontal slashes in each; a serrated bread knife, wielded firmly, works well here.

7) Bake the bread for 25 to 30 minutes, until it's a very deep golden brown. Remove it from the oven, and cool on a rack.

Source: King Arthur Flour

**I put a cookie sheet with a bunch on ice cubes in it on the lower rack. It made the crust even chewier and crispier. We all gobbled this bread up!

Sourdough Whole Wheat Pancakes

2 c basic batter

2 T olive oil

2 T sugar

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 c whole wheat flour

Combine starter, milk, egg, oil and blend thoroughly. Combine salt, sugar, soda, baking powder, and flour. Blend so no lump os soda or baking powder remain. Sprinkle over batter. Mix just barely until blended. (About 10 strokes) Stirring too much will make your pancake tough.

Sourdough Banana Bread

1/3 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 c basic batter
1 cup mashed bananas (2 bananas)
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 c chopped nuts

Cream together shortening and sugar; add egg. Mix until well blended. Add sourdough batter. Stir in banana. Add dry ingredients, then add nuts, stirring until well blended.
Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.